My thoughts on my first Freep ever today in Fayetteville, NC. I arose early and set out on my two hour journey to Fayetteville. During the course of my trip, I kept going over different scenarios in my mind on responses to any sort of idealogical or factual argument I may have with the other side. I admit I was a little stressed.

arriving, the word was that we would have about 30 FReepers (if lucky), and that there were going to be about 1,500 "peace" people. As we gathered and waved our flags, spoke our mantras, the "enemy" slowly ascended the hill. My anxiety about being quick-witted in response to reasoned arguments rapidly vanished. The rag-tag crew that ascended the hill (about 600-700) people looked to be a mish mash of seasoned citizens wearing torn clothing and trash bags, and junior high school students waving such signs as "My dad is a Navy veteran, and he opposes the war".

Okay, so where's your dad? I can't help but mention the ecletic dancer with black and red hair who was "dancing" to the beat of homemade drums. It made me long for the sixties, even though I was born in 1968. I looked around at the 90, yes 90 Freepers and family assembled, all with flags and signs, reciting the pledge of allegiance, I looked at the Vietnam Vets against John Kerry, the veterans from various wars, the wives, and the babies, and then I had to laugh. Not at us, at them. I saw signs that were very germane from "Affordable Housing" to "Dennis Kuchinic" (who)?, and other such mind provoking drivel. I had to laugh, I just had to.

The reporter asked me if I had lost my legs in combat. I explained to the reporter that I had leg braces on, as exhibited by my very visible feet, that my legs were still there.

We marched behind this stately peaceful crowd where we joined up with our brothers and sisters in leather and on Harleys.

We would have loved to debate the other side, but no one seemed to want to come to "the line" to do that. So, I just watched one misguided veteran from the 101st, who upon weighing roughly 300 pounds shout to us that we didn't "get it". I would've shouted back, but he had already turned and gone down the hill, presumptively to get another hot dog.

The FReepers were great, it was like being amongst old friends, but I had just met them. We all shared in fellowship, and were quick to offer help to those who needed it. I would like to thank all the FReepers who were there for their kindness and patriotism. I am only left with one question - when we got to the park there were about a hundred open black umbrellas laying on the side of the "peace" people, and it wasn;t raining. What gives?

Because engaging stupidity is a waste of time, and time is something engaged people have very little of. Some of us have to work for a living so we have money to spend to keep the economy running, and the government flush with cash.

Wow!! You guys did great!! I tried but could not get away from work to stop by and finally meet everyone.(pout) But working in retail it was fun when so many of my customers came in and wanted to talk about what was going on.... Thank you all so much.

121
posted on 03/21/2004 12:28:14 PM PST
by Nefertiti
("Common Sense" is a self-contradictory phrase. 'Sense' is never 'Common')

The cries and whines of the leftist heard in Fayetteville included many pleading requests for jobs. These are the members of the underclass, the parasites on the American society. Their union speakers condemned Halliburton and Bechtel and all corporations upon whom the ultimately rely for jobs, as enemies of all that is good. There was not a business person in the lot. They were obsessed with the destruction of business and industry.

They had a march and a rally. They needed to raise some money to pay their expenses. Some brilliant business mind conceived the umbrella teepee. A good leftwing wacko was supposed to pay out some of his begrudgingly earned money to obtain the privilege and right to decorate an umbrella with an important symbol or significantly meaningful work of art. The thus decorated and highly symbolic umbrellas would become the exterior wall of the Teepee, a Greek trophy if you will, to the victory of the day. Since the great conceiving mind knew the attendees are semiliterate and not particularly gifted with original thoughts, each umbrella carried a small placard with a preconceived idea and art work. Alas...... there were almost no takers. One wag in the Rollin Thunder contingent said "those ol hippies just can't get past the 60's. They think this is Woodstock."

The sea of umbrellas was still present at 3:30 p.m., a silent testimony to the failure of the day. A tribute to all those (the ones with money) who some how didn't make it.

Sorry it's taken me so long to post pictures and commentary to your thread. My cable modem was non functional when I tried to get online last night, shortly after that the cable TV went out. Gotta love Time Warner! It was probably for the best since I was exhausted so I went to bed by 10 pm and slept until 8 am this morning. Was anybody else as tired as I was? Doesn't help that I was outside all day in the oak pollen and my allergies are REALLY bad this time of year.

It was really great to get together with some old timers and meet a LOT of new FReepers yesterday. It's SO much fun to do counter-protesting. The thing that suprised me the most was the elderly age of about 2/3 of the 'peace' protesters. They were literally stuck in the 60's, most looked like they hadn't bathed since the 60's either.

Thanks to all of you who made the financial and time sacrifice to protest with us yesterday. Here are a few pics that I took. I wish I would have remembered to get a few shots of the freakshow march as they passed by though. I was too busy laughing at them and holding up the HUGE 10 ft long FR banner too take pictures.

MKM

124
posted on 03/21/2004 12:57:00 PM PST
by mykdsmom
(Contrary to popular opinion, Constitution Day is NOT my husband!!!!)

A few more pictures and a big thanks to Rolling Thunder for letting us hang with them. These Vietnam Vets are true patriots and I want to say that it was an honor ridiculing the "Anti-War" protestors with them.

To the Fayetteville PD, if you are still monitoring these threads, I'd like to say THANKS FOR YOUR GREAT WORK!!!

MKM

125
posted on 03/21/2004 1:09:05 PM PST
by mykdsmom
(Contrary to popular opinion, Constitution Day is NOT my husband!!!!)

But as they passed the intersection of Bragg Boulevard, a group of about 100 greeted them with chants of "Osama loves you" and "Swim to Cuba." Donnie Greene, 42, of Fayetteville, who served in the Army artillery and saw action in Panama, held an imaginary joint in his hand and told the marchers to "go smoke another one."

I asked a couple of reporters why the other side had a big Morton's Salt ad ( meaning the umbrellas ) there. We thought about sneaking down there, making a donation to paint pro war slogans on the umbrellas. As far as the umbrellas representing dead soldiers, I think the reporter was just guessing.

129
posted on 03/21/2004 3:11:56 PM PST
by Hillarys Gate Cult
(Proud member of the right wing extremist Neanderthals.)

it is rather interesting that you would cite the use of chemical weapons by hussein some 14-16 years earlier as a justification ("who WMD'd his own people") for invading the country. funny, how the "hussein 'has' wmd" is vitually forgotten by bush supporters. why is that?

The fact that he clearly had weapons of mass destruction 14-16 years ago - a fact that only the most delusional hate-America-first leftists can deny or spin given the widespread and well-known photographs of dead Kurdish babies up in northern Iraq and the uncontested testimony of survivors - is not a "justification" for the invasion.

Rather, the 15-year-old WMD use is a point in a continuum. He had chemical weapons and supporting hardware and intellectual capital 14-16 years ago, point one. He engaged in a pattern of evasion, deception, and obstructionism in defiance of United Nations resolutions demanding that he divest Iraq of such weapons, point two. He created the impression among the inspectors, and even his own officers, that WMD were ready for use, and carefully hidden, point three.

Why is it so difficult for leftists to connect the dots?

Besides, Congress spelled out the justification for invasion under the Clinton Administration when it passed a resolution calling for regime change in Iraq.

There was a memorial park across Hay Street and it was tightly guarded by the Fayetteville police. Two old soldiers had that as their destination, a place to watch the goings on.

They both came walking down the hill in our direction and saw the memorial cordoned off and demonstrators across the street. The first was a small black man. He watched us and our signs and our flags for several minutes before he decided that a group with lots and lots of American flags who were being given the thumbs up sign by cars passing with honking horns must be ok. He quietly infiltrated our group and stood by himself in the back. I mosied up and thanked him for joining us as I checked out the massive collection of service medals and insignia on his fatigue jacket. He had served in Viet Nam, Airborne, Ranger and lots I couldn't decipher. He had come to support the troops, specifically, his troops. His son recently returned from Iraq and his daughter soon to go. As I listened I saw a photographer taking his picture. He eased closer and closer, rapidly taking photos. He finally quit and engaged the man, getting his name and learning about the son and daughter. He was a photographer for Time. I feel certain this old soldier will make Time. He had a zillion pictures taken.

Some what later, an older man, late seventies, did the same thing. He got to the memorial and was bewildered that he could not enter it. I watched him because he looked like a bum. Dirty, unkempt, grizzled white beard and a tattered and dirty red and white ball cap. He also crossed the street and ducked under the yellow caution tape marking the boundry of our FReeper containment area. As he came close by, I could see that his green shirt was buttoned wrong. He started at the top, missing the top hole and leaving tne button at the bottom dangling. He walked among us with his head tilted back, smiling as if happy to see what we were about.

Close up I could see that his cap had two metal insignia... the wings of a paratrooper and the rifle of a combat infantry man. I spoke to him, thanking him for lending us his support and joining our group. He said nothing, just nodded his recognition. An old soldier, WW II I guess, engaged the enemy one more time.

You are so right concerning the WWII Vet; He is perfect for Time magazine. He had exactly the face that says "real life, real hardships, real experiences".

It was just so shocking that Time magazine was even there. Who would have thought that the press releases would be so effective. I have NEVER seen such a good press turn out for one of our small town events.

The only thing different in this press release than others was the listing of a designated "press availability" time. It really helped.

I talked to him for quite awhile, he had my unit's insignia on his camo's. He couldn't stop talking about how proud he was that he and his son were both on active duty at the same time. I had no idea that Time was there, but if there's anyone who deserves the cover, it's this man - and look at what company he chose to keep, FReepers. Let's keep doing the next right thing.

....I have NEVER seen such a good press turn out for one of our small town events.......

Beware of Greeks bearing gifts........

They were there to spin gold from the dross of a boring rally and to take a few shots at those who disagree. I will be suprised if the Washington Post or the New York Times or Time Magazine says anything that is not in total agreement with the story board outline given to the reporters before they were dispatched to Fayetteville.

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